Friday, July 22, 2011

the home stretch

Hello friends. I feel like I've been away a year. I've missed you! Amazing how much can take place in one week. We are here in good ole Virginia. We are happy and TIRED...very very tired. This move has been probably the hardest thing we've ever done. So excited to share everything with you. I couldn't possibly jump to the present. There was a whole lot of in between, so bear with me as I recount this past week.

The final morning the movers were there the girls and I took a long walk. Saying goodbye to the views, which to be honest was just as hard to leave as my friends. I loved my farm view and the pasture with the cows.

The first night in the new house I could tell it was going to be a pretty sunset and with the trees all around us there is just no way we can see it. That was the first time I felt the lump in my throat. Mourning the loss of light. I loved that show every night. We are bound and determined to find a good sunset spot.

It was beyond surreal to see the moving truck in front of the house and to see it empty. I tried really hard not to let myself go down the path of reflection too much. I was almost numb from the drain of the week. So many tears, so many goodbyes. It was exhausting. I did steal away for a little bit and sat in my art room and just prayed and thanked God for our last 7 years in that house.

Right as we were getting ready to load in our cars an impromptu farewell group formed to give us final squeezes and hugs. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe...just breathe. Try not to worry. There will be more little friends to play with. The girls will be fine. I know they will!

The movers didn't finish up that night until 3:30 a.m. We apparently have a LOT of stuff! They had to go really slow to stack it all in as tight as possible to fit it on the truck. Thank God it all made it.

We checked into our hotel late and just crashed. It was beyond weird being back in the same hotel that we slept in on our first night in MN 7 years prior. Talk about coming full circle. I was flooded with memories of how everything was so unfamiliar then. Wondering if we would like it. Thinking who in the world lives here in Chaska, MN. I found it oddly comforting to know that those same insecure feelings I felt all those years ago would mimic exactly how I would feel when we got to Virginia. It WILL be okay. It WILL become familiar and feel like home. I WILL make friends. Ahhhhh:)

See my wedding ring on that chain?? When we stayed here before my wedding ring disappeared from the night stand. We frantically searched high and low all over the room looking for it. I was freaking out! Finally we asked Big Chick who was 4 at the time if she had seen it. She marched right over to the window and lifted up the curtain. She had hidden my ring!! By this time I was so messed up from worry that it put me over the edge and I physically got sick. We are talking the nasty kind of sick. I ended up sitting in the car with a bucket at our house closing. The realtor had to bring papers to the car for me to sign. Good times!

Pulling away from the hotel the next morning the tears came. The weather was stormy. It completely matched my mood. I sobbed all the way down the highway...watching our familiar little town get smaller and smaller in my side mirror.

We drove in complete downpours for several hours. I kept thinking come on Minnesota...why can't we have some good weather at least on the way out!??

It finally cleared and we took in all the things I love about the Midwest...farms, fields and wide open spaces as far as the eye can see.

And then we made the best pit stop ever! HOME...back in Illinois to get a little comfort food, squeezes from our special people and prayers washed all over us. It was short. We got 2 hours with my mom and dad and two hours with Honey's mom and step dad. It was just what we needed.

Honey's dad was a big part of the town he grew up in. He served on the village board for years and when he passed away they decided to dedicate part of the new city park in his memory. This is the plaque that they had made. Isn't that the coolest thing? God's word right there in a public park. Love the verse.

I was slightly demented and completely unsafe as we traveled. All these pictures are taken from the car as we drove. I followed Honey and at one point I about drove off the road, but I got some great shots. Is there anything more beautiful than a barn?? I personally don't think so;)

The next night we stopped in a really small town in Ohio. It was late. We had Fergie and couldn't really be choosy about where we stayed, so we ended up in a NASTY place. This isn't a picture of that particular hotel. Trust me, it was gross. I made the mistake of walking on the carpet barefoot. My feet were black. Not kidding.

I read something once about bedbugs, since then I've been a little obsessed. I check the mattress seams and look over the bedding. Can't even imagine the horror of trying to get rid of them. So you can guess what kind of night sleep I had. We even changed rooms in the middle of the night because they put us right by an outside door and it kept slamming shut. That was fun and did I mention there was no elevator:(

The next morning Big Chick passed out in the shower. She got overheated and I just happened to be in the bathroom at the same time to catch her and lay her down before she fell. CRAZY! Not the kind of memories you want to be making.

Finally after 3 days we made it to the promise land:) It was so beautiful.

The new adventure begins. We had some more hiccups along the way. Primarily our house didn't close on the day we were planning on. It was stressful and unexpected, but that's life. It doesn't always go according to your wishes. Flexibility is not our strong point, but we're working on it.

I can't wait to show you more, but I have about a million boxes to unpack, so this will have to hold you until next time;) Love you girls. Thank you again for praying for us and checking in. I am so so grateful to call you my friends.

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Hi...I'm Becky. My life's journey so far has led me to marry my high school sweetheart. We've been married for 23 years, have 2 beautiful girls and a furry creature named Fergie. My painting style is very simple, colorful and almost childlike. I grew up in rural Illinois hence, "Farmgirl Paints". I get my creative inspiration from God. It is only through His giftings that I have any ability whatsoever.